Electrics

• When charging electrical goods, follow the manufacturer's instructions and look for the CE mark that indicates chargers comply with European safety standards.
• Switch off and unplug chargers and devices when not in use.
• Avoid charging mobile phones and other electronic equipment overnight. NEVER place electrical items under pillows or on soft furnishings.

Batteries can ignite at waste management facilities and put staff at risk when incorrectly recycled.

Follow these tips:

• Never put batteries in your general waste or recycling bins.
• Only recycle batteries using a proper battery recycling service, such as at your local recycling and household waste site or battery collection point often found in supermarkets.
• Remove batteries from broken devices if you can, and recycle both the battery and the device separately.
• If you cannot remove the battery, recycle it with your old electricals.

These are the lightweight, rechargeable batteries we use daily for household electrical items like mobile phones, laptops, and e-cigarettes. A lithium-ion battery probably powers the device you're reading on.

Lithium batteries are safe during normal use but present a fire risk when overcharged, short-circuited, submerged in water, or damaged. They are a main cause of waste fires and can be extremely dangerous when thrown away with general rubbish or mixed with other recyclable materials like cards, metals, and plastics.

Lithium-ion batteries are extremely sensitive to high temperatures and inherently flammable. These batteries can cause fires that quickly spread and are difficult to extinguish, causing widespread damage.

• Always use a charger supplied with the device or recommended by the manufacturer.
• Charge the device on a flat, solid, stable surface like a kitchen worktop. Never leave your mobile phone charging under your pillow.
• Only charge the device for the recommended charging time, and don't leave it unattended—e.g., overnight while you're asleep or if you go out.
• Keep the device away from flammable materials when charging.
• Never charge lithium batteries on your escape route. If possible, charge and store them away from your living areas.
• Avoid storing, using, or charging batteries at high or low temperatures.
• If the device has not been used for quite some time, be extra careful when charging it—lithium batteries don't like being discharged to a very low voltage.
• Protect batteries against being damaged – that's crushed, punctured, or immersed in water. Do not use if it looks physically damaged.
• Always read the safety instructions that come with your device.
• Ensure you have working smoke alarms.
• Avoid storing or charging e-bikes and e-scooters on escape routes or communal areas of a multi-occupied building. If there's a fire, it can affect people's ability to escape.

Visit the Less Waste website to learn more about the dangers of zombie batteries and how you can recycle them responsibly. You can also visit the How do I dispose of guide to learn how to recycle, reuse, or dispose of an item.

Fires caused by smoking materials are the biggest killers in accidental house fires. Someone dies from a fire caused by cigarettes or smoking materials every five days. If you smoke in your home, we would urge you to be cautious and follow the safety advice below:

• Careless disposal of cigarettes is the single biggest killer in house fires, causing over a third of all fire deaths (36%).
• Stub cigarettes out properly and dispose of them carefully. Put them out. Right out!
• Use a proper ashtray – never a wastepaper basket. Ensure your ashtray can't tip over and is made of a material that won't burn.
• Don't leave a lit cigarette, cigar or pipe lying around. They can easily fall over and start a fire.
• Be Alert! Never smoke in bed!

Take extra care if you smoke when you're tired, taking prescription drugs, or if you've been drinking. You might fall asleep and set your bed or sofa on fire. Take it outside: Make your home and car smoke-free to prevent fires and protect children and others living with you. Since 1st October 2015, it is illegal to smoke in a car (or other vehicle) with anyone under 18. The law changed to protect children and young people from secondhand smoke.

Smoking materials or a naked flame could cause patients' dressings or clothing to catch fire if they are wearing clothing which has dried emollient residue. DO NOT smoke and/or use naked flames when wearing fabric that may be contaminated with emollient residue. For more detailed information, visit our dedicated emollient safety page.